Attacking rugby the focus for Wairarapa-Bush Under 16s
Pride and a chance to get selected for the junior Hurricanes is what the McCarthy Transport Wairarapa-Bush Under 16s will be playing for in Palmerston North next week.
The 25-player squad, coached by Chris Senior, kick the Hurricanes Under-16 Competition off against Wanganui on Monday with high hopes of being very competitive.
They are scheduled to play three games over four days.
Senior says there is an exciting feel about the team, with some really talented young players who have some “serious skill and potential”.
The squad is an excellent representation of the district drawing on six colleges, including Tararua College.
Senior says there is a big a focus on playing an attacking style of rugby.
“Traditionally Wairarapa is not a large physical team, so we have to focus on ball movement and skill to beat teams,” Senior says.
The team’s most recent outing, against Wellington Development in the capital last weekend, ended in a 38-8 defeat. But Senior says there was still a lot to be positive about the performance.
“We failed to capitalise on opportunities and struggled with the physical difference in size in the heavy conditions, but played well in patches.”
The match was played in atrocious conditions which didn’t suit Wairarapa’s attacking style.
For the up-and-coming players next week’s tournament could be a pivotal moment in their rugby careers. It is the first real opportunity for players to be noticed in the Hurricane youth system, with the best players picked for Hurricane Under-17 team.
Key players for Wairarapa-Bush will be : Harry McKay (utility), Rory Mckee (loose forward), Sam Smith (loose forward) and Lucas Megaw (lock), Isaac Bracewell (half-back), Sam Morison (first-five eighth), Jack Eschenbach (midfield), Cooper Jamieson (midfield/wing) and Devon Gerrad (wing/full-back.)
FULL SQUAD:
- Ruamano Thomas, Joseph Edmonds (Makoura)
- Krittapon Kietchaisak, Harry McKay, George Hargood, Matt Vollebregt, Rory Mckee, Jack Eschenbach, Cooper Jamieson (Rathkeale)
- Tafa Tafa, Thomas Innes, Adam Gordon, Callum Forbes, Sam Smith, Keegan Sunridge, Jeff Iefata, Zac Mitchell, Isaac Bracewell, Sam Morison, Ed Frost, Shaiane Daniels (Wairarapa)
Lucas Megaw, Devon Gerrad (Chanel) - Joshua Manley (Tararua)
- Gracyn Evans (Kuranui)
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